Butterfly Park across the
street (Graham) from the public golf course, Meadowlark
Golf Club, was a thicket of trees so dense that hardly
any light shone through their branches. That was
before the Australian tortoise beetle chewed, gnawed and
sucked them dry, killing them.
The
thickest forest in Huntington Beach was a either the
Butterfly Park, officially known as Norma Brandel Gibbs
Park, or the dense growth at Central Park behind the
Park Bench Cafe. Beetles sucked the life out of
the trees in both parks, requiring the city to remove
them, and replace them, so some citizens hope.
Among the
concerned populace is Huntington Beach Tree Society
president Jean Nagy. Once a school teacher, and a
Realtor, you'll find her hand and good works noticeable
throughout the city. If you have a tree question, you
can call the city Public Works division, or for a second
opinion, you can call Nagy, whose goal is to plant the
right types of trees in the local environment.
Nagy was
one of several people called in during the planning
stages of removal of the trees at the location shown in
the video above. The video shows the forest after the
removal occurred. Once recognized as a grove used by
migrating Monarch butterflies, concerns about the
replanting of trees have caused Nagy and others to
spring into action, seeking funding for replenishing the
groves with new plantings.
The park
is at the top of a hill connected to grassy lawns and a
kids park below, built as part of the greens area
serving the public and new homes that were built at the
old Meadowlark Airport property. The airport once served
the community as a small craft airport, but was shut
down, making way for a shopping center and houses.
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